Evaluation of syngas-based chemical looping applications for hydrogen and power co-generation with CCS

This paper evaluates hydrogen and power co-generation based on coal-gasification fitted with an iron-based chemical looping system for carbon capture and storage (CCS). The paper assess in details the whole hydrogen and power co-production chain based on coal gasification. Investigated plant concepts of syngas-based chemical looping generate about 350-450 MW net electricity with a flexible output of 0-200 MWth hydrogen (based on lower heating value) with an almost total decarbonisation rate of the coal used. The paper presents in details the plant concepts and the methodology used to evaluate the performances using critical design factors like: gasifier selection criteria for chemical looping applications, influence of gasifier feeding system (dry fed vs. slurry fed), heat and power integration analysis as potential ways to increase the overall energy efficiency, hydrogen and carbon dioxide quality specifications considering the use of hydrogen in transport (fuel cells) and carbon dioxide storage in geological formation or used for EOR. The results show that syngas-based chemical looping systems ensure lower carbon capture energy penalties and higher overall plant energy efficiencies than more technologically mature capture methods (e.g. pre- and post-combustion capture based on gas-liquid absorption). Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.